THE Victorian Jockeys' Association yesterday attempted to take some heat out of the issue involving embattled jockey Dan Nikolic by meeting industry chiefs yesterday before tomorrow's crucial report on Nikolic's behaviour is presented to the integrity sub-committee, reports The Age.It says: VJA chairman Ross Inglis said he and association chief executive Des O'Keeffe spent an hour and a half in ''productive'' discussions on the Nikolic issue with Racing Victoria Ltd chairman Michael Duffy and ch

THE Victorian Jockeys' Association yesterday attempted to take some heat out of the issue involving embattled jockey Dan Nikolic by meeting industry chiefs yesterday before tomorrow's crucial report on Nikolic's behaviour is presented to the integrity sub-committee, reports The Age.

It says: VJA chairman Ross Inglis said he and association chief executive Des O'Keeffe spent an hour and a half in ''productive'' discussions on the Nikolic issue with Racing Victoria Ltd chairman Michael Duffy and chief executive Rob Hines. ''The issue has to be resolved and the discussions today were very productive,'' Inglis said.

The meeting was called following the latest outburst from the jockey at last Thursday's Oaks meeting at Flemington, when Nikolic called chief steward Terry Bailey ''a disgrace'' after he was asked to hand over his protective vest for inspection.

Bailey will present a report on Nikolic's behaviour to the RVL integrity sub-committee tomorrow and it is understood the stewards are considering laying a charge that will demand Nikolic shows cause as to why his licence should not be revoked.

Last Thursday, stewards charged Nikolic under rule 87D for being in possession of a modified safety vest and charged him $1000. Bailey said the vest confiscated from Nikolic was thin in the padding and did not meet standards. But before Nikolic left the stewards' room, he said to Bailey: ''You are a disgrace. You are doing a disgraceful job. If you've got a problem with me take it away from the racecourse.''